I thought this was much better than the second novel in that it focused more on the progression of the story rather than adding new characters. Plus, I'm a sucker for post-apocolyptic worlds where people see/live/find ruins of the older grander world that came before them. The importance or riddles to some of the characters in interesting and reflects ancient interest in the subject. My favorite part was the time spent near and in the city of Lud which probably makes up the last half of the book.

The battle with an ancient robot gaurd early on was interesting and well done. My least favorite part of the book by far was a battle with a sex demon. ( )

This is the 3rd instalment of King's Dark Tower series and this review will include spoilers for previous books thereof. Read on at your peril!

This one picks up a short while after the end of book 2 with Roland mostly recovered from his adventure with the Lobstrocities but feeling the onset of another problem that his actions have accrued. In saving Jake from death in New York he has created a paradox as to get to where he currently is then Jake must have died and subsequently travelled to Roland's world where they meet in the desert town. This is causing conflict in Roland's mind and driving him slowly crazy. Jake is also suffering the same malady back in New York. Can they find a way to stave off this encroaching madness? Meanwhile Roland has been teaching his new companions, Eddie & Susannah, the ways of the gunslinger and it's not long before their new abilities are put to the test.

While the previous two books have been mostly setting up the scene for what is to come this one is definitely more action oriented as well as developing the characters and the world around them. There is much more emphasis on this now being a group quest with Roland, Eddie & Susannah being joined by two others in their travels and each member plays a significant part along the way. I hope the next volume in the series continues on apace as this one has done. ( )

THE WASTE LANDS Review The third Dark Tower book is not only my favorite in the series, but it's one of my favorite books from King period. Out of his immense catalog, it ranges around number five or six out of his best for me.

Unlike THE GUNSLINGER and THE DRAWING OF THE THREE, THE WASTE LANDS put me in Roland's world, kit and caboodle. Not only does Roland come into his own, changing from the shithead egomaniac of previous books to the epic hero he should have been from the beginning, but Jake makes his return. We're also introduced to one of the coolest characters in the entire series, Oy the billy bumbler. The high points of the previous two books (The Battle of Tull and the shootout at Balazar's) pale in comparison to the action in this book. The fall of Shardik, the Mansion and the demon, the crossing of the bridge, Gasher's race through the city with Jake, the showdown with the Pubes on the Street of the Turtle, Jake handling his business like a boss under the city, all of those scenes leave me breathless no matter how many times I read them. This book is simply loads of fun.

And yes, I even love Blaine. The sentient mono rail, whose brain resides elsewhere (both literally and figuratively) is a blast. His impressions are funny, and I even find myself laughing at him when he's been a spoiled brat or sulking child. I'm also a fan of riddles, always have been, so shoot me.

This review will be the shortest one I write out of the entire serious, mainly because I can't find anything within these pages to complain about.

In summation: The rest of the series, for me at least, is tedious in comparison to THE WASTE LANDS. I never have as much fun after this volume, but I love the series as a whole, so I press on. Highly recommended.

(Note to Dan: I'm starting WIZARD AND GLASS tomorrow because it takes me forever to get through that book. If you start on W&G around the first of June, you'll probably still be done with it before me.)

Haiku Summary of the book. Choo Choo Engine,stood before Roland the Braveasking mean riddles. Believe me there is more to this book than that, because there is nothing quit like Stephen King. He grabs a hold of you and will never let go. He uses the mythic structure of the Heroes Quest, while keeping the form current by not letting the work go into the drawers of cliche.
The dark tower is the subterranean river that flows beneath all of his books. When we jump into the adventure of the Ka-tet, we are seeing the strands of King's other works being tied up and completed. He has created a universe that will keep you awake at night. ( )

"It's only a stream. Well, perhaps a little more than that. It's called the Waste."

"Is it really?"

"Yes," said Winifred, "it is."

-- Robert Aickman

"Hand in Glove"

Dedication

This third volume of the tale is gratefully dedicated to my son, OWEN PHILIP KING:

Khef, ka, and ka-tet.

First words

It was her third time with live ammunition. . .and her first time on the draw from the holster Roland had rigged for her.

Quotations

The house was alive. He knew this, could feel its awareness reaching out from the boards and the slumping roof, could feel it pouring in rivers from the black sockets of its windows. The idea of approaching that terrible place filled him with dismay; the idea of actually going inside filled him with inarticulate horror.